Scientists from the Azov-Black Sea branch of VNIRO conducted a comprehensive oceanographic survey in the Sea of ​​Azov

 

This voyage can be called significant, since such studies have not been conducted in the Sea of ​​Azov in the spring season since 2013. It is also important to note that the studies covered the entire water area of ​​the Sea of ​​Azov, including the coastal areas of the northern Azov region, which were previously inaccessible to domestic researchers.

 

The main goal of the expeditionary research was to monitor the habitat of aquatic bioresources of the Sea of ​​Azov in the spring. Employees of the hydrological, hydrobiological and ichthyological divisions of the branch took part in the expedition.

 

Hydrological monitoring of the habitat included studying water temperature, salinity, waves, color, transparency of water, speed and direction of the current. Water samples were also taken to analyze the concentrations of total nitrogen and phosphorus forms, with subsequent calculation of the trophicity of the reservoir. Hydrobiological studies included sampling of zooplankton. These studies will determine the state of the food supply of the Sea of ​​Azov before the start of the spawning period of spring-spawning fish species.

 

During the expeditionary research, the first half of the voyage was dominated by low winds, which contributed to the development of conditions close to calm when exploring the central part of the sea. In the second part of the expedition, when exploring the Taganrog Bay, southern and southwestern winds prevailed at a speed of 1 to 11 m/s (with gusts up to 15 m/s). During the work on April 24, fog was observed. The air temperature fluctuated in the range of 6.2-19.5 ºС. Sharp changes in air temperature contributed to the formation of significant temperature stratification of the surface layer of the Azov Sea, where the water temperature varied from 11.6 ºС (Central part of the Azov Sea) to 16.5 ºС (Taganrog Bay).

 

In accordance with wind and thermal regimes, significant variability in water transparency was also noted, changing from 0.3 m in the Taganrog Bay to 8.5 m in the northwestern part of the sea.

 

Currently, the samples and materials obtained during the expedition are being processed and analyzed in specialized laboratories of the Azov-Black Sea branch of VNIRO. Thanks to the conducted research, more objective and complete data will be obtained on the habitat of aquatic organisms and the current state of the ecosystem of the Azov Sea.

 

Press service of VNIRO